In the Sacramento area, the highest tax balance belongs to Lyons of California Inc. It owes more than $4.5 million. The company owned the restaurant chain Lyons, but at the Sacramento address it lists, a different restaurant occupies the space.

Sacramento has the most delinquent businesses in the area with seven. It's followed by Modesto (6), Roseville (3), West Sacramento (2), Vacaville (2), and Clovis, Citrus Heights, Lodi and Rancho Cordova all with one each.

"Sometimes when people end up on the list they say 'Oh, wait a minute, I don't want to be out there publicly', so they're contacting us and trying to at least enter into a payment plan," Board of Equalization spokesperson Venus Stromberg said.

Attorney Shawn Ervin, who helps businesses with taxes and bankruptcy, said anyone who owes taxes needs to pay up as quickly as possible.

"Certainly it can be disastrous for most businesses and individuals, if not all of them," Ervin said. "The state has very broad collection authority, which would include levying on any and all assets, accounts receivables, bank accounts."

Ervin said it's important to file returns on time even if you don't think you have the ability to pay because the penalties alone can greatly increase the tax liability.

"The situation definitely is not going to get any better by not addressing it," Ervin said. "Eventually you're going to end up on this list and the state is not going to let you to continue to operate and accumulate taxes."

So how much is this costing you? Put one way: $461 million could pay the salaries of 2,766 firefighters, 3,227 police officers and 5,071 teachers, according to the Board of Equalization.